Review: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM – Nikon

The Nikon 24-70mm lens is one that has been praised by every photographer who picks it up. The only issues that some people find with the lens is that it is heavy, large, and expensive at around $1,700. That price tag makes it hard for hobbyist photographers to justify purchasing a lens that costs more than most camera bodies. That is where third party companies like Sigma and Tamron come in to make lenses more affordable to photographers. Sigma had previously released a 24-70mm lens, but it lacked a focusing motor. The new Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG HSM adds a focusing motor and a smaller size.

For those of you who like to read the tech specs, look below. If you don’t like reading tech specs scroll further down for my review and sample images.

Technical Specs

Lens Construction

14 Elements in 12 Groups

Angle of View

84.1-34.3

# of Diaphragm Blades

9

Minimum Aperture

f22

Minimum Focusing Distance

38 cm / 15 in

Filter Size (mm)

82mm

Maximum Magnifications

1:5:3

Minimum Focusing Distance

38 cm / 15 in

Dimensions

86.6mm mm/3.5 in

Weight

790g / 27.9oz.

Lens Construction

Here is what all the letters on the lens mean:

HSM – Hyper-Sonic Motor

IF – Inner Focus

EX – EX Lens

DG – DG for Digital

ASP – Aspherical

G – G type Nikon mount lens

Overall Impression

When I first received the Sigma 24-70 I was surprised at how small the lens was compared to the Nikon version. By smaller I mean it is shorter, but when you look at the lens you notice that it is wider than the Nikon. I liked the fact that it was shorter because it would be easier to take around with me. I really don’t like walking around Austin with the big 24-70mm, and its huge lens hood. It’s really bright here so I always like leaving the lens hoods attached. So not only did I have a lens that had a fast aperture, but it was also small enough that it was comfortable to carry.

Something else to note is that the Sigma lens has a satin/silky finish to it as well as the lens hood. That was a first for me. Normally I’m used to feeling either hard plastic or metal when touching lenses. I’m not sure what the lens is coated/covered with but it feels nice. I did notice that on a friend’s Sigma 70-200mm OSM that the lens doesn’t have the same finish. We’ll have to see if Sigma’s next iteration of the 24-70mm shares the satin finish.

The only other thing to mention is that the lens zooms clockwise, opposite to what you are used to on Nikon lenses. This didn’t really bother me while I walked around taking sample shots. I have shot with Canon lenses before so that might be why I’m used to zooming both ways.

Build Quality

The lens itself feels heavy and well built. I personally preferred the Sigma’s build quality over that of Nikon’s 18-105mm or 28-300mm lenses. The focus and zoom rings are made of plastic, but it does feel better than other lenses I’ve used like Canon’s 50mm f1.4. The lens hood is plastic and is smaller than the Nikon version. The hood slides on nicely and clicks when it is on correctly. I was really impressed overall with the build quality. When I shot some of the sample images, I was walking around in 105 degree weather for an hour and a half with no issues. The lens held its own even in the extreme heat.

As you can see in the image below the lens mount is metal. The only thing that the mount is missing is the rubber gasket present on Nikon pro lenses. That helps to ensure that water doesn’t get into the camera.

The only issue I had with the build quality of the lens was the auto/manual focus switch on the side of the lens. The switch does not match the finish of the lens, and protrudes from the barrel of the lens. It would occasionally switch from Autofocus to Manual focus from rubbing against my body while being carried on a BlackRapid strap. It just seems like the switch was an afterthought rather than being designed into the lens.

Focusing

I walked around and shot with the Sigma 24-70mm, and would then switch the Nikon 24-70mm in order to compare focusing speeds. I found that the Nikon focused just a bit quicker, and was more reliable. The Sigma would sometimes have to go through the full focus range before catching focus. But for being about $900 cheaper than the Nikon it performed exceptionally well. The addition of the HSM motor is what helps this lens focus fast and accurate while still being silent.

Image Quality

I was really surprised when I got back home and opened Aperture to look at the photos shot with the Sigma 24-70. The images produced were sharp and the contrast was great. In Aperture I took out the Loupe (100% magnification) and I was surprised to see how sharp the images came out. Even in the corners of the image I lines were still sharp.

There was slight signs of purple fringing when I examined some tree leaves in the corner of some images. But other than that the Sigma 24-70 delivered on the most important piece, image quality. The images shown in this section have not had any sharpening done in Photoshop.

In the picture below you can see how a f2.8 aperture allows you to separate your subject from the background.

As you can see in the image below I was able to get some flare to show up when pointing the lens towards the sun. It wasn’t terribly bad considering the sun was right above the building I was shooting.

Conclusions

After getting to use the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 DG HSM I would have to say that it is a great buy for anyone that isn’t looking to spend $1,700 on the Nikon version. For the $900 spent on the Sigma 24-70 you are getting a lens that delivers quality images at almost half the cost of Nikon’s 24-70mm lens. That $900 savings allows you to purchase maybe a 50mm 1.8 prime lens, and other accessories.

I think overall that the Sigma 24-70mm lens is a great alternative to the expensive Nikon version. As long as you don’t mind buying a third party lens you will be happy with the images that this lens captures. I was really surprised to see how well this lens did considering I own the Nikon 24-70mm lens.

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